Round 9, 1964
Melbourne vs Collingwood
Monday 15 June
Venue: MCG
Attendance: 86,664
| 1st | 2nd | 3rd | Final | |
| Melbourne | 3.2 | 5.4 | 8.10 | 10.13.73 |
| Collingwood | 2.1 | 3.4 | 5.9 | 8.15.63 |
Melbourne win by 10 points
Goalkickers: Barry Bourke 2, Graeme Jacobs 2, John Townsend 2, Barrie Vagg 2, Ken Emselle 1, Bryan Kenneally 1
Milestones:
Nil
The huge Queen's Birthday crowd at the MCG saw a bruising battle between two of the great sides of the era. It was fierce but not one of the best games of the season, suffering as a spectacle because of windy conditions that made marking difficult. Nevertheless, the crowd generated a record gate of 14,255 pounds for a home and away game.
Collingwood welcomed interstate defenders John Henderson and Laurie Hill back, but they were both well-beaten by Melbourne forwards Barassi, Kenneally and Vagg, who continually found themselves loose in attack. That helped Melbourne to a 12 point lead at half time, before they were shaken by two early goals by the Pies at the start of the third term. They had wasted attacking chances by bombing the ball to the square instead of taking shots or finding targets closer to goal, now it looked Collingwood might make them pay. The visitors didn't get another goal for the quarter, allowing Melbourne to steady and lead by 19 points at the last change.
Melbourne opened a two goal handy lead at the half, but was shaken by two early goals by the Pies after the break. They’d wasted many attacking chances in the first half by hopefully bombing the ball to the square instead of taking shots or looking targets closer to goal. Collingwood looked like making them pay, but didn’t have enough contributors. Best on ground Ray Gabelich was mighty for the Pies but lacked support, and after the two early goals to Terry Waters they missed several other gettable shots, allowing Melbourne to recover and go into three quarter time with a 19 point lead.
The Pies had the better of the arm wrestle for supremacy in the last quarter. They got to within 10 points before a Barrie Vagg goal sealed victory. The Pies replied with the last of the game to cut the margin back to 10 but it was too late.
From then on the match was an arm wrestle for supremacy until the very end of the match. The Pies had their chances, and when Barrie Vagg goalled late Melbourne was home. The Pies got one back but it came too late.
Despite playing under an injury cloud Barassi was his side's best, along with Vagg and Mann. Barassi had a bruised hip and Mann a leg injury but neither was replaced, leaving David Robbie and Peter McLean as unused reserves.
Reserves
Collingwood 16.13 d. Melbourne 8.5
Goals - Carroll 2, Vearing 2, Bartlett 1, Beaton 1, Matthews 1, Zinko 1
Best - Davis, Leitch, Hill
Reported - Bartlett (striking - 2 week suspension)
Under 19s (played Saturday 13 June)
Collingwood 19.8 d. Melbourne 9.8
Media
Age - 16/06/1964
Football Record - R10 1964